RIP, Robert Dziekanski

October 8, 2009 1:38 PM

October 14 will be the 2nd anniversary of Robert Dziekanski's death. I want to peacefully protest at Vancouver International Airport. Are security / police allowed to remove me?

My intention is to stand with a stapler in one hand, held high. Preferably with as many people as possible doing the same thing. What will happen when we do, assuming we are completely peaceful and non-violent?

Also, how do I spread the word about this protest as far and wide as possible? I am not much of an internet junkie...MeFi is pretty much the only blog/forum that I participate in (obsessively, at that).

posted by randomstriker to law & government (11 comments total)

If you're inside the airport, I would expect them to have the right, and the desire, to kick you out. The problem is that "inside the airport" is a pretty broad term. I think your best bet is to be on the highway, just past the bridges, where everyone who comes to and from the airport will see. Then you can get signs etc., as well.
posted by Lemurrhea at 1:55 PM on October 8

I think if you succeed in spreading the word and drawing a lot of attention to the protest, you're less likely to get booted from the airport. They already had enough bad publicity from the death itself so I don't imagine they would want any more.

I suggest trying to call the Province. Any of the local newspapers would do, but the Province seems to love these sorts of human-interest articles. You might also try the Georgia Straight although today is Thursday, so it wouldn't make it in until next week's edition, which would come out ... one day before your planned protest? Cutting it close.
posted by mannequito at 2:12 PM on October 8

It's the top story on the Globe & Mail website at the moment, so posting in article comments might be helpful to spread the word.
posted by meerkatty at 2:25 PM on October 8

OK let's assume they will remove us.

What are proven protest tactics that will prolong impact and increase attention? Things that come to mind are:

- if enough people participate, to have them protest at regularly spaced intervals. I.e. act normally, and one-by-one pull out the stapler and perhaps a piece of paper that says "RIP Robert Dziekanski" as the last protester gets hauled off.

- have someone capturing it on live streaming video (e.g. www.qik.com) from their camera phones.

Obviously I am not experienced in these matters.
posted by randomstriker at 2:34 PM on October 8

I applaud the spirit behind your action, randomstriker, but I have to say that I find the idea of a group of people pulling out a stapler, solemnly, and holding it aloft almost akin to parody -- maybe I'm a harsh person, but when I read your description I laughed a little. Would it be better to just have everyone pull out signs that say "RIP Robert Dziekanski" instead?
posted by Big Fat Tycoon at 3:57 PM on October 8 [3 favorites]

I can't find confirmation but I think the airport is private property, like a mall, so security can ask you to leave and if you don't you can be arrested for trespassing.
posted by Mitheral at 4:07 PM on October 8

Yes, it's ridiculous, that's the whole point. More ridiculous is being tased for holding a stapler (a "weapon of opportunity", in the words of the RCMP lawyer).
posted by randomstriker at 4:14 PM on October 8

I get your point; I just don't know if the typical person will take that away as the message, but I could be wrong.
posted by Big Fat Tycoon at 4:43 PM on October 8

....which is where publicity will come in handy. If randomstriker and others can get interviewed and explain the reasoning behind the action, it will garner all the more attention.
posted by mannequito at 4:55 PM on October 8

"Justice for Dziekanski" might be more effective, considering how his last name is pronounced. (OK, I just have a thing for alliteration)
posted by Decimask at 5:32 PM on October 8

If you decide to go with the staplers, it might be in your best interest to make sure that there aren't any staples in them.
posted by timdicator at 6:22 AM on October 9